Republican/Independent Richard Mallary of Brookfield, a giant in Vermont politics, has died. He was 82 years old.
Mallary’s political career goes back decades. He ran against Patrick Leahy to succeed George Aiken in the US Senate in 1974. Prior to that, he had been a State Representative from 1961 to 1969 (including a stint as Speaker), and then a State Senator from 1969-1970. From 1972-1975, he was Vermont’s US Representative, having been initially elected to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Robert Stafford.
Mallary, a former dairy farmer and bank vice-president, returned to the Vermont House from 1999 to 2003 – but concluded his electoral career as an Independent. From the Herald/Argus in 2000:
State Rep. Richard Mallary condemned the Republican Party for its opposition to civil unions as he announced Monday he would run for re-election as an independent.
“I do not believe this opposition is consistent with the fundamental philosophy of the historic Republican Party that I have supported,” said Mallary, 71
Vermont’s political leadership was quick to honor Mallary. From Governor Shumlin:
“He was a man who put the interests of this state and all Vermonters ahead of party politics, a commitment reflected in his support of civil unions that was key to passage of the important legislation. Dick’s passing is a loss for Vermont, and particularly for those of us who respected him and considered him a friend.”
From Rep. Welch:
“Dick Mallary dedicated his life to making Vermont a better place to live and work. In the model of George Aiken and Bob Stafford, he was a humble statesman who put party differences aside for the good of our state. Whether as a select board member, state legislator, state official, Member of Congress, or corporate leader, he selflessly served our state well and will be missed by his family and all whose lives he touched.”
From House Speaker Shap Smith:
“Dick Mallary was the model public servant. He was deeply committed to upholding the highest values of our state’s citizen democracy. He fought for what was right, not for what would make a good sound bite or campaign slogan. As Speaker, Dick presided over the Vermont House of Representatives with boldness, foresight and respect for the institution as it was transformed from a 246 seat to a 150 seat chamber. In each office, he served his constituents and his state with true dedication and great honor, inspiring generations of public servants. Dick will leave Vermont a lasting legacy we should all be proud of. My thoughts go out to his family in this difficult time.”
These gentlemen were statesmen who understood that the function of a two party system was to bring reasonable and informed debate into the process, not blackmail and extortion fueled by negative ideological extremism.
I am personally saddened by Dick Mallary’s death. I have known him since 1973, when I first went to work for him in Washington, D.C., while he was in Congress. I saw him last in mid-July at his place in Brookfield, where we walked his property. His pace left me as winded as it did back in the early 1970’s when he would sprint up the stairs of the Cannon House Office Building two stairs at a time, leaving us younger aides in the dust.
There are many things I could say, but here is a little Mallary trivia most folks don’t know:
1. Dick was an expert farmer, raising an award-winning dairy herd over in Fairlee. Back in 1985, when I was working in North Dakota, I flew into a small town and got talking to a local dairy farmer, a rarity in ND. I mentioned I once worked for a Member of Congress named Dick Mallary, who was a dairy farmer. The North Dakotan replied, “We all know the Mallary herd. It is one of the best in the nation.” Dick Mallary represented quality.
2. During his brief span in Congress, Dick would invite a freshman legislator down from the Vermont House to work for about six weeks in the summer as an intern. The first summer, Mike Obuchowski was the legislator/intern; the second year, it was Jim Douglas.
3. When I last saw Dick, he showed me a print he was given when he left Congress. It was of the old House chamber. On the reverse side, it was signed by the members of the Wednesday Group, a caucus of moderate House Republicans. Some of the names included John B. Anderson, Mac Mathias, Charlie Goodell, Bill Steiger, Bill Frenzel and many more. This was well before the Republican Party descended to its nadir of “Know Nothing-ism” that it exemplifies today.
4. Speaking of the Know Nothings, Karl Rove (yes, that Karl Rove) actually worked for Dick Mallary. Mallary’s chief of staff hired Rove for a short period of time. The thought was that, with the anticipated retirement of George Aiken, Mallary could use some protection on his right flank. Karl was then President of the College Republicans. Ironically, a primary challenge from the right never materialized; rather, it came from the left in the person of Charlie Ross, Chuck Ross’ father.
I am sad that the Republican Party of Dick Mallary, Jim Jeffords and Bob Stafford has disappeared. But, for now, I am sorry I cannot visit with Dick Mallary again. He was not only an employer, but he became a friend and a teacher.